Edward s



(No Model.)

E. S. PIPER.

SIGNAL LAMP. No. 276,278. Patented Apr.24 1883.

l UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE?" EDWARD s. PiPEa-or TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

SlGNAL-LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 2'76,278, dated April 24, 1883. "A pplication filed October26.1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, EDWARD Seasons Pr- PER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at thecity of Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to utilize the light ot'a railway-car, a locomotive head-light,

or any other artificially-lighted chamber, for the purpose of illuminating thereby a lens or other glass used for signal purposes; and it consists in the peculiar construction and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Figure 1 is aperspective view of the case or box provided with twd lenses or signal-glasses, situated opposite to each other, and separated by a partition formed by a reflector extending obliquely from the side of each glass toward the center and open side of the box. Fig. 2 shows the application of my signaling-lamp to a caboose of a railway-car. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the case with a single lens. 1

In the drawings, Ais a case having flanges a, made of wood, metal, or any suitable material, shaped in accordance with any design desired, and made any size most suitablefor the particular position the specific case or box is intended to occupy.

Bis the lens or signal-glass, which, when applied to a box made as shown in Fig. 1, is duplicated, one being placed at each end of the box, immediately'opposite to each other.

0 is a reflector, extending obliquely from the side of each lensB toward the center and open side of the box, thereby forming two distinct compartments within the case A, each compartment being backed by a reflector, so

arranged that the light admitted through the open side of the case shall be refracted onto the lens inserted into and communicating with the particular compartment so formed. It will thus be seen that the reflector 0 not only reflects light upon the particular lens behind which it is placed, but it also serves as a partition to separate the two lenses, sothat the light cast on it cannot blend or interfere with the light cast onto the other. I may further mention here that angular reflectors so arranged are specially serviceable for reflecting light admit-ted through the open side of the box onto the lenssituated at its end, and that by. placing apiece of colored glass over the compartment D the rays of light admitted therein and refracted through its lens shall be colored, while the rays of light transmitted from the same source,,but admitted into theapplied for the purpose ofshutting off the light from eitherof the compartments, thereby blind-- ing one signal-lens, while the other continues to cast the light intended for its particular signal.

A casing thus constructed is particularly applicable to a caboose, street, or other car where a signal or tail lamp is required. In such an application an aperture is cut in the side of the car, preferably inproximity to the ordinary lamp for lighting the car,wl1ich lamp sheds its light on the reflectors 0, arranged as specifled,which reflect0rs,in their turn, reflect the light thus obtained onto the lenses situated opposite to each other and suitably colored,so that the one visible from the rear of the car shall cast a danger-signal, while the white rays of light thrown from the opposite. lens shall signal to the engine-man that his tail signal lamp is in order. Of course, when colored glasses are applied upon the open side of the box A, as hereinbefore explained, both lenses should be made of clear glass, and the nature of the signal altered by changing the colors of the glasses covering the open side of the box.

There are various ways for connecting the case Ain position. It may be so formed as to fit into the window-sash, It may be permanently secured by screws passing through the flanges a to the outside of the car, opposite to an aperture made through the car, for the purpose of admitting light into the box or chamber; or it may be adjustably held opposite to the said aperture, so that it can be removed at will. It is therefore not necessary to detail any particular manner of connecting it in position. When applied to acab of a locomotive, I prefer locating it in such a position that the lamp used for making the water-gage visible shall be utilized for illuminating the interior of the box; but it will of course be understood that I do not limit myself to any particular location or to any manner of applying itin position, the sole object being to provide means for utilizing for signaling purposes the light commonly employed for illuminating any particular compartment. '0

Importance is attached to the fact that the device may readily be applied to street or other cars now inuse by simply cutting an aperture in the side of the car corresponding to the size of the open side of the box A, and securing the box to the car, thereby utilizing the light used for lighting the car to cast a signal in either or both oftwo directions parallel with the travel of'the car.

I am aware that colored lenses have been placed in locomotive head-lights, and reflectors have been used to throw different-colored signals through such lenses; but no such construction is sought to be covered in this application.

Ido not claim, broadly, the use of a reflector and lens or signal-glass to be attached to a lamp to divert part of its light, as I am aware that such have been used before; but

What I do claim is-- p 1. The combination, with a car lighted by a lamp inside thereof, and having anaperture through which shines the light from'said lamp, of a signaldevice independent of the lamp, consisting of the case A, provided with flanges a, for attachment to the side of the car, the glass B, and the reflector U, the latter arranged with one end close vto the opening in the car, adapting it to receive the raysof light direct from the lamp and deflect them in a direct horizontal plane through the signal-glass, as set forth.

2. Acasing, A,open atone side,and provided at opposite ends with glasses B, and a double reflector, 0, arranged opposite the open side of the casing and vadapted to divide the rays of light passing through said opening and reflect them through the glasses at the ends of the case, substantially as described.

3. In a box or casehavingtwo lenses or signalglasses insertedin it opposite to each other, and a reflector extending obliquely from the side of each glass toward the center and open side of the box'for the purpose of forming a partition between, and aseparatereflector foreach glass, the combination of colored glass so placed'over the open side of the box that the rays of light admitted 'therethrough shall be differently coloredfor each compartment formed within the box by the partition,-as-specified, sothat the light from each lens shall be of a difl'erent color.

EDWARD S. PIPER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. O. BALDWIN, F. B. FETHERSTONHAUGH. 

